Having a common language is a crucial aspect of everyday life and a precondition for social and cultural participation. For some, language is also a medium of artistic expression.

Exile often made it necessary to learn a new language and sometimes a different script. While children were quicker to adapt to the new linguistic and cultural environment, this represented a great challenge for adults.

German-speaking cultural associations, clubs and political groups were set up in many countries of exile. German exile publishing houses and the works of exiled writers formed part of the resistance against the Nazi regime. However, few of these works were translated and read by the population of the host country.